一条大鼠睾丸新基因的生物信息学分析及真核表达

目的：探讨大鼠睾丸组织一条新基因的生物信息学特征和真核表达。方法：构建pEGFP-N1载体的融合质粒进行真核表达,利用生物信息学手段分析基因和蛋白功能。结果：生物信息学分析表明RSA14-44的编码区序列与人类及鼠源RAS同源基因家族核酸序列达到85%以上的同源性;RSA14-44蛋白没有典型的跨膜结构域,也没有典型的N末端信号肽;与人类RhoA蛋白序列达到了89%的同源且具有Rho家族成员的GAAX盒和p-loop结构的基序特征;RSA14-44蛋白大部分氨基酸序列与Rho家族7个已知结构域高度同源;RSA14-44基因真核表达定位于细胞质。结论：RSA14-44基因真核表达定位于CHO-K1细胞质,;编码蛋白质与Rho家族同源性高,为进一步研究其生物学功能提供参考。     

一条大鼠睾丸新基因的生物信息学分析及真核表达

目的:探讨大鼠睾丸组织一条新基因的生物信息学特征和真核表达。方法:构建pEGFP-N1载体的融合质粒进行真核表达,利用生物信息学手段分析基因和蛋白功能。结果:生物信息学分析表明RSA14-44的编码区序列与人类及鼠源RAS同源基因家族核酸序列达到85%以上的同源性;RSA14-44蛋白没有典型的跨膜结构域,也没有典型的N末端信号肽;与人类RhoA蛋白序列达到了89%的同源且具有Rho家族成员的GAAX盒和p-loop结构的基序特征;RSA14-44蛋白大部分氨基酸序列与Rho家族7个已知结构域高度同源;RSA14-44基因真核表达定位于细胞质。结论:RSA14-44基因真核表达定位于CHO-K1细胞质,;编码蛋白质与Rho家族同源性高,为进一步研究其生物学功能提供参考。     

斑马鱼核纤层蛋白Lamins的生物信息学分析

目的了解斑马鱼核纤层蛋白(lamins)的重要遗传信息。方法在UCSC、Vega及Ensemble数据库上收集了不同物种核纤层蛋白家族相关蛋白质序列,利用Clustal X工具进行分析,并用MEGA 4.0软件绘制进化树;通过NCBI网站上BLAST工具将斑马鱼核纤层蛋白的蛋白质序列与不同物种的相对应的蛋白质序列进行对比,最后将人类、小鼠及斑马鱼的lamins基因信息,进行共线性分析。结果对核纤层蛋白相关基因进行生物信息学分析后显示斑马鱼的核纤层蛋白与人类的相似程度高,推断lmna、lmnb1和lmnb2基因在进化过程中高度保守。结论编码斑马鱼lamins的基因lmna、lmnb1和lmnb2等可能是人类LMNA、LMNB1和LMNB2等基因的直向同源物。     

果蝇程序化死亡基因5(PDCD5)同源cDNA的克隆和序列分析

 为了解人类白血病细胞凋亡相关新基因 TFAR1 9(PDCD5,programmed cell death5)在不同种属间的序列同源性 ,利用 EST(expression sequence tag)拼接、RT- PCR、DNA序列测定技术及计算机分析技术 ,首次成功地进行了果蝇 PDCD5同源 c DNA编码区基因克隆和序列分析 .发现果蝇与小鼠及果蝇与人 PDCD5在核苷酸水平上分别有 57.5%和 57.1 %的同源性 ,在氨基酸水平上分别有 46.8%和 46.4%的同源性 .功能区分析发现 ,果蝇 PDCD5c DNA编码 1 33个氨基酸 ,计算机预测可能是一种核蛋白 ,含 5个可能的酪蛋白激酶 (casein kinase )磷酸化位点 ,2个可能的 PKC磷酸化位点 ,与人 PDCD5的功能区类似 .因而果蝇 PDCD5是与人 PDCD5同源的新基因 ,可能都与细胞程序化死亡相关 .     

编码新型转录因子样蛋白的小鼠及人类同源cDNA的克隆(英文)

 通过检索GenBank的表达序列标签 (EST)数据库并结合cDNA末端快速扩增法 (RACE) ,从小鼠胸腺克隆到一个新的cDNA序列 ,并从人类肝癌组织中克隆出了其同源cDNA .根据读码框架分析 ,这两个cDNA分别编码 541和 555个氨基酸的蛋白质 两个蛋白质之间氨基酸序列一致率为77% ,和已知蛋白无显著同源性 .分子生物学软件和网上分析表明 ,两个蛋白质所含功能序列与STAT家族成员极为相似 ,均含有包括酪氨酸蛋白激酶在内的多种蛋白激酶的磷酸化位点和核定位信号 (NLS) ,可能是一种新型转录因子 .RT PCR分析显示 ,两个基因在正常组织中选择性表达 ,其分布相似 ,而且都具有一定程度的与分化或增殖相关的趋势 .     

恒河猴PPARgamma基因的生物信息学分析

恒河猴 Macaca mulatta是继黑猩猩Pan troglodytes 后第2个完成基因组测序的非人类灵长类动物,在生命科学领域中具有重要意义.本文利用生物信息学方法寻找与人类肥胖密切相关的 PPARg 基因在恒河候中的同源基因,对该基因的序列、外显子信息、编码蛋白及其理化性质进行分析,并预测其编码蛋白的结构与功能,构建其同源基因的系统进化树,旨在为今后人类肥胖的相关研究提供一定的依据.     

橡胶草异戊烯焦磷酸异构酶基因的电子克隆及分析

利用电子克隆方法获得两条橡胶草异戊烯焦磷酸异构酶基因（IDI）的eDNA序列和编码区基因组序列,分别命名为TkIDI1和TklDl2,并采用生物信息学方法对该基因及其编码蛋白进行系统进化、亚细胞定位、活性位点、高级结构等方面的预测和分析。结果显示,TklDI1的eDNA序列长度为980bp,包含一个696bp的开放读码框（ORF）,编码232个氨基酸,预测定位于内质网或叶绿体上;TkIDl2的eDNA序列长度为1038bp,包含一个843bp的ORF,编码281个氨基酸,预测定位于线粒体或叶绿体;而他们的截短转录本蛋白定位于胞质中,且都具有过氧化物酶体定位信号。结构分析表明TkIDI1和TkIDI2与植物IDI蛋白同源,活性位点保守,高级结构与其他植物的IDI均具有高度的相似性。     

小鼠睾丸特异表达基因TSEG-1的克隆及序列分析

从表达序列标签(expressed sequence tags, ESTs)数据库ZooDDD中获得小鼠正常睾丸表达的EST, 通过dbEST数据库检索出与其高度同源的EST序列, 构建EST叠加群(contigs), Biolign软件拼接, GeneScan软件预测contigs对应的基因组序列中的外显子、内含子; 针对开放阅读框设计引物序列, 采用RT-PCR从小鼠睾丸组织中克隆新基因的cDNA, 分析该基因在小鼠各脏器中的mRNA表达, 并对测序结果进行生物信息学分析。结果表明: 在小鼠X染色体的1 668~2 011 kb间克隆出一新基因TSEG-1, 全长为510 bp, 开放阅读框为336 bp, 编码111氨基酸, 分子量12.84258 kDa, 等电点11.4000。RT-PCR证实该基因开放阅读框正确, 在小鼠睾丸组织中特异性表达, 且与小鼠其他cDNA 无同源性, 获得GenBank 登录号EU079024。功能区分析发现TSEG-1蛋白可能为一种跨膜蛋白, 跨膜区位于第41~61氨基酸残基。TSEG-1基因与人类睾丸特异性组蛋白2a变异体基因有较高同源性, 在TSEG-1基因5′-端非编码侧翼预测发现存在1个启动子区域, 范围为680 bp。 TSEG-1蛋白可能有4个抗原性位点, 2个特异性蛋白激酶的磷酸化位点, 其亚细胞定位可能位于线粒体。小鼠睾丸特异性基因TSEG-1的克隆为进一步研究其生物学功能和表达调控奠定了基础。     

香蕉枯萎病菌果胶甲基酯酶基因的克隆与生物信息学分析

旨在了解香蕉枯萎病菌(Fusarium oxysporumf.sp.cubense)4号生理小种(FOC4)PME基因序列特征,根据同源物种PME相关序列设计引物,利用PCR和RT-PCR技术,克隆FOC4序列基因和开放阅读框,命名为Foc4Pme。结果表明,所获得的PME基因均含有2个内含子和3个外显子,990 bp的片段,编码329个氨基酸。预测编码蛋白有信号肽,具有1个功能位点,其分子质量和等电点分为34.894 8 kD和9.17,该蛋白为稳定存在的蛋白。该蛋白疏水性最大值为2.022,最小值为-2.156,大部分区域为亲水区。该基因编码的蛋白具有一定保守性,进化上与镰刀菌亲缘关系最近。     

青花菜雄性不育相关基因BoDHAR的克隆与表达分析

以一个与甘蓝显性核不育相关的差异表达片段的序列为信息探针,通过在NCBI与TAIR网站数据库中进行同源EST序列搜索,经人工拼接、RT-PCR、PCR克隆与序列分析,获得了青花菜脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶DHARdehydroascorbatereductase基因的cDNA与DNA全长序列,命名为BoDHAR。并利用双链接头介导PCR的染色体步行技术(genomewalking)克隆了其上游644bp的5′端序列。所获的BoDHAR基因全长1486bp,存在两个内含子,DNA编码区序列633bp,编码210个氨基酸;序列分析表明BoDHAR与同源基因AT1G19570.1cDNA序列有82.3%的一致性,推导的氨基酸序列有79.6%的一致性;编码的水溶性蛋白存在多个磷酸化位点;5′端上游区存在明显的转录调控序列。半定量RT-PCR结果表明BoDHAR在可育系花蕾中的表达量明显高于不育系花蕾,在花药中的表达明显高于其它部位。     

Arabidopsis TERMINAL FLOWER 2 gene encodes a heterochromatin protein 1 homolog and represses both FLOWERING LOCUS T to regulate flowering time and several floral homeotic genes

Floral transition should be strictly regulated because it is one of the most critical developmental processes in plants. Arabidopsis terminal flower 2 (tfl2) mutants show an early-flowering phenotype that is relatively insensitive to photoperiod, as well as several other pleiotropic phenotypes. We found that the early flowering of tfl2 is caused mainly by ectopic expression of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene, a floral pathway integrator. Molecular cloning of TFL2 showed that it encodes a protein with homology to heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) of animals and Swi6 of fission yeast. TFL2 protein localizes in subnuclear foci and expression of the TFL2 gene complemented yeast swi6(-) mutants. These results suggested that TFL2 might function as an HP1 in Arabidopsis: Gene expression analyses using DNA microarrays, however, did not show an increase in the expression of heterochromatin genes in tfl2 mutants but instead showed the upregulation of the floral homeotic genes APETALA3, PISTILLATA, AGAMOUS and SEPALLATA3. The pleiotropic phenotype of the tfl2 mutant could reflect the fact that TFL2 represses the expression of multiple genes. Our results demonstrate that despite its homology to HP1, TFL2 is involved in the repression of specific euchromatin genes and not heterochromatin genes in Arabidopsis.     

Identification of differentially expressed genes associated with HER-2/neu overexpression in human breast cancer cells.

Amplification and resulting overexpression of the HER-2/ neu proto-oncogene is found in approximately 30% of human breast and 20% of human ovarian cancers. To better understand the molecular events associated with overexpression of this gene in human breast cancer cells, differential hybridization was used to identify genes whose expression levels are altered in cells overexpressing this receptor. Of 16 000 clones screened from an overexpression cell cDNA library, a total of 19 non-redundant clones were isolated including seven whose expression decreases (C clones) and 12 which increase (H clones) in association with HER-2/ neu overexpression. Of these, five C clones and 11 H clones have been confirmed to be differentially expressed by northern blot analysis. This group includes nine genes of known function, three previously sequenced genes of relatively uncharacterized function and four novel genes without a match in GenBank. Examination of the previously characterized genes indicates that they represent sequences known to be frequently associated with the malignant phenotype, suggesting that the subtraction cloning strategy used identified appropriate target genes. In addition, differential expression of 12 of 16 (75%) cDNAs identified in the breast cancer cell lines are also seen in HER-2/ neu -overexpressing ovarian cancer cells, indicating that they represent generic associations with HER-2/ neu overexpression. Finally, up-regulation of two of the identified cDNAs, one novel and one identified but as yet uncharacterized gene, was confirmed in human breast cancer specimens in association with HER-2/ neu overexpression. Further characterization of these genes may yield insight into the fundamental biology and pathogenetic effects of HER-2/ neu overexpression in human breast and ovarian cancer cells.     

Evolutionary breakpoints on human chromosome 21.

Segments of the long arm of human chromosome 21 are conserved, centromere to telomere, in mouse chromosomes 16, 17, and 10. There have been 28 genes identified in human chromosome 21 between TMPRSS2, whose orthologue is the most distal gene mapped to mouse chromosome 16, and PDXK, whose orthologue is the most proximal gene mapped to mouse chromosome 10. Only 6 of these 28 genes have been mapped in mouse, and all are located on chromosome 17. To better define the chromosome 17 segment and the 16 to 17 transition, we used a combination of mouse radiation hybrid panel mapping and physical mapping by mouse: human genomic sequence comparison. We have determined the mouse chromosomal location of an additional 12 genes, predicted the location of 7 more,and defined the endpoints of the mouse chromosome 17 region. The mouse chromosome 16/chromosome 17 evolutionary breakpoint is between human genes ZNF295 and UMODL1, showing there are seven genes in the chromosome 16 segment distal to Tmprss2. The chromosome 17/chromosome 10 breakpoint seems to have involved a duplication of the gene PDXK, which on chromosome 21 lies immediately distal to the KIAA0179 gene. These data suggest that there may be as few as 21 functional genes in the mouse chromosome 17 segment. This information is important for defining existing and constructing more complete mouse models of Down syndrome.     

Cloning and characterization of a gene (RNF22) encoding a novel brain expressed ring finger protein (BERP) that maps to human chromosome 11p15.5

We have recently identified a novel RING finger protein expressed in the rat brain, which associates with myosin V and alpha-actinin-4. Here we have cloned and characterized the orthologous human BERP cDNA and gene (HGMW-approved symbol RNF22). The human BERP protein is encoded by 11 exons ranging in size from 71 to 733 bp, and fluorescence in situ hybridization shows that the BERP gene maps to chromosome 11p15.5, 3' to the FE65 gene. The human BERP protein is 98% identical to the rat and mouse proteins, and we have identified a highly conserved potential orthologue in Caenorhabditis elegans. BERP belongs to the RING finger-B-box-coiled coil (RBCC) subgroup of RING finger proteins, and a cluster of these RBCC protein genes is present in chromosome 11p15. Chromosome region 11p15 is thought to harbor tumor suppressor genes, and deletions of this region occur frequently in several types of human cancers. These observations indicate that BERP may be a novel tumor suppressor gene.     

AGO1 controls arabidopsis inflorescence architecture possibly by regulating TFL1 expression

Background and Aims

The TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) gene is pivotal in the control of inflorescence architecture in arabidopsis. Thus, tfl1 mutants flower early and have a very short inflorescence phase, while TFL1-overexpressing plants have extended vegetative and inflorescence phases, producing many coflorescences. TFL1 is expressed in the shoot meristems, never in the flowers. In the inflorescence apex, TFL1 keeps the floral genes LEAFY (LFY) and APETALA1 (AP1) restricted to the flower, while LFY and AP1 restrict TFL1 to the inflorescence meristem. In spite of the central role of TFL1 in inflorescence architecture, regulation of its expression is poorly understood. This study aims to expand the understanding of inflorescence development by identifying and studying novel TFL1 regulators.

Methods

Mutagenesis of an Arabidopsis thaliana line carrying a TFL1::GUS (β-glucuronidase) reporter construct was used to isolate a mutant with altered TFL1 expression. The mutated gene was identified by positional cloning. Expression of TFL1 and TFL1::GUS was analysed by real-time PCR and histochemical GUS detection. Double-mutant analysis was used to assess the contribution of TFL1 to the inflorescence mutant phenotype.

Key Results

A mutant with both an increased number of coflorescences and high and ectopic TFL1 expression was isolated. Cloning of the mutated gene showed that both phenotypes were caused by a mutation in the ARGONAUTE1 (AGO1) gene, which encodes a key component of the RNA silencing machinery. Analysis of another ago1 allele indicated that the proliferation of coflorescences and ectopic TFL1 expression phenotypes are not allele specific. The increased number of coflorescences is suppressed in ago1 tfl1 double mutants.

Conclusions

The results identify AGO1 as a repressor of TFL1 expression. Moreover, they reveal a novel role for AGO1 in inflorescence development, controlling the production of coflorescences. AGO1 seems to play this role through regulating TFL1 expression.     

Evolution of the PEBP gene family in plants: functional diversification in seed plant evolution

The phosphatidyl ethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) gene family is present in all eukaryote kingdoms, with three subfamilies identified in angiosperms (FLOWERING LOCUS T [FT], MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1 [MFT], and TERMINAL FLOWER1 [TFL1] like). In angiosperms, PEBP genes have been shown to function both as promoters and suppressors of flowering and to control plant architecture. In this study, we focus on previously uncharacterized PEBP genes from gymnosperms. Extensive database searches suggest that gymnosperms possess only two types of PEBP genes, MFT-like and a group that occupies an intermediate phylogenetic position between the FT-like and TFL1-like (FT/TFL1-like). Overexpression of Picea abies PEBP genes in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) suggests that the FT/TFL1-like genes (PaFTL1 and PaFTL2) code for proteins with a TFL1-like function. However, PaFTL1 and PaFTL2 also show highly divergent expression patterns. While the expression of PaFTL2 is correlated with annual growth rhythm and mainly confined to needles and vegetative and reproductive buds, the expression of PaFTL1 is largely restricted to microsporophylls of male cones. The P. abies MFT-like genes (PaMFT1 and PaMFT2) show a predominant expression during embryo development, a pattern that is also found for many MFT-like genes from angiosperms. P. abies PEBP gene expression is primarily detected in tissues undergoing physiological changes related to growth arrest and dormancy. A first duplication event resulting in two families of plant PEBP genes (MFT-like and FT/TFL1-like) seems to coincide with the evolution of seed plants, in which independent control of bud and seed dormancy was required, and the second duplication resulting in the FT-like and TFL1-like clades probably coincided with the evolution of angiosperms.     

TTC4,a Novel Human Gene Containing the Tetratricopeptide Repeat and Mapping to the Region of Chromosome 1p31 That Is Frequently Deleted in Sporadic Breast Cancer

The 1p31 region shows loss of heterozygosity in up to 50% of human breast cancers, indicating the presence of a tumor suppressor gene in this location. We have mapped six novel ESTs to a 15-Mb contig of yeast artificial chromosomes spanning the critical region of 1p31. One of these ESTs was localized within the contig to the region most commonly undergoing loss of heterozygosity in breast cancer. The corresponding gene sequence for this EST was established by cDNA cloning and RACE procedures. This gene is 2 kb long and contains a tetratricopeptide repeat motif and a coiled-coil domain. This family of genes has been implicated in a wide variety of functions, including tumorigenesis. This is the fourth member of the human gene family, and so we have named this geneTTC4.Northern blot analysis demonstrates a ubiquitous pattern of gene expression that includes breast tissue. A preliminary screen of human breast cancer cell lines shows thatTTC4is expressed in all cases, but SSCP analysis of the coding region of this gene following RT-PCR failed to reveal any mutations. Clearly, because of its map location, a more extensive analysis is warranted to establish whether subtle mutations are present in breast cancers.